What you really need to know about the latest IRS procedure for fixing retirement plan mistakes

Benefitspro.com asked me to write about the new IRS Revenue Procedure. If you didn’t see it there, we are reposting it here on The Principal® blog. Article originally posted on benefitspro.com.

To err is human. To fix complex errors is, well, complex.

I’ve received several phone calls over the past couple of days about the recent revenue procedure issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that impacts the system for correcting retirement plan compliance mistakes, the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS).

Mostly, the calls are coming from people who have read that the procedure—known as Internal Revenue Procedure 2013-12 or Rev. Proc. for short—somehow affects 403(b) plans. But the callers are struggling to understand how. They have found the Rev. Proc., and the summaries about the procedure, are overwhelming and highly technical. The fact is that the Rev. Proc. is highly technical because it covers a highly technical issue. Even the shortcut terminology—Rev. Proc., EPCRS—tends to make eyes glaze over.

So what exactly should a financial professional know about the compliance resolution system and the updated procedure?

First, it’s helpful to understand that the EPCRS itself is not new. But it is periodically updated and that is what has happened now.

Second, it helps to understand why this compliance resolution system is even necessary. It centers around one of the more attractive features of qualified retirement plans, tax deferrals. A basic premise of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) is that any payment between an employer and an employee is taxable income UNLESS that payment meets specific provisions AND a complex set of related regulations, then it can be tax deferred. In other words, it is taxed at some point in the future, rather than immediately. Unfortunately there isn’t wiggle room that allows for a best effort to satisfy most of the rules. ALL of the rules have to be satisfied in order to get the favorable tax treatment.

Satisfying all of those rules, all of the time, is a tall order. The reality is that mistakes happen because these plans are administered by humans. When there are mistakes, the payments, or entire plan, can be “disqualified” or subject to taxes now rather than the future; or worse, could be taxable in the past, meaning the taxes are delinquent and penalties and interest would be due.

Fortunately, the government understands that mistakes happen; that it is good public policy to encourage retirement savings, and bad policy to punish individuals with tax consequences for human errors that are often beyond their control. That is why we have this compliance resolution system, the EPCRS. It is a series of highly technical rules and procedures for correcting certain errors so that the plan can remain in compliance and favorable taxation is not lost. All of the compliance rules are complex in the first place, so it is not unreasonable—or surprising— to expect that correction methods will be even more complex.

Although a plan sponsor can go through the corrective processes themselves, it typically makes sense to involve experts who understand the rules and who are authorized to practice before the IRS. Similar to a mistake on your personal income tax return, or a problem found on audit, you could represent yourself with the IRS, but it usually makes much more sense to hire a qualified tax advisor.

Back to 403(b)s
The callers are correct. This latest update has now incorporated 403(b) plans in a more meaningful way than ever before. In other words, there is more ability to correct human error in 403(b) plan compliance. The updated version of EPCRS generally allows 403(b) plans to take advantage of the same sorts of correction methodologies that have been available to 401(k) and other 401(a) plans. Until now, 403(b) plans have not been afforded the luxury of having specific correction procedures and leaving them at risk of disqualification or having to negotiate error corrections with the IRS on a case by case basis. That was hardly efficient or very effective. Some bugs still need to be worked out of the system, but having 403(b) plans included in the EPCRS is a step in the right direction.

As I said earlier, to err is human. To have a way for 403(b) plans to fix errors is divine.

I

In addition to blogging here, I also tweet regularly about topics of interest to Tax Exempt plans. Follow me on Twitter: @1aaronfriedman1.

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